Preventative oral vancomycin reduces the incidence of C. difficle during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, according to a study by Pittsburgh-based University of Pennsylvania researchers.

Researchers will present the study results at the 58th Annual American Society of Hematology Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, Dec. 3 to Dec. 6, 2016.

The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study including 105 adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the University of Pennsylvania between April 2015 and July 2016. Fifty of the 105 patients received oral vancomycin twice daily starting on the inpatient admission day for the transplantation.

Here are five insights:

1. There were no cases of C. diff infection in patients that received oral vancomycin.

2. However, 11 of the 55 patients who did not receive vancomycin developed C. diff during the transplantation.

3. The median time taken for a C. diff diagnosis was eight days.

4. The median length of stay was not significantly longer in the oral vancomycin intervention patients as compared to the control group.

5. There were no cases of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus bloodstream infection in patients who received the vancomycin.

Researchers also note, "Since CDI and/or its treatment may alter the gut microbiome, longer follow up will determine if there is any impact on other outcomes."